Punish them but not for sedition, says Kit Siang’s aide over anti-Agong comments

Syahredzan Johan says those who insult the monarchy should not be probed under draconian and archaic laws.

PETALING JAYA: An aide to DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang today questioned the police for using the Sedition Act to investigate three individuals who allegedly insulted Sultan Muhammad V in the wake of the monarch’s resignation last Sunday.

Syahredzan Johan, who is the Iskandar Puteri MP’s political secretary, said the online remarks by the trio should be condemned but said they should not be probed under a “draconian and repressive” law.

“We take the position that although what they have expressed may be offensive and unacceptable to society at large, they should not be detained under the Sedition Act,” said a statement issued jointly by Syahredzan and Farhan Haziq Mohamed, who heads the Subang DAP Youth wing.

“The Sedition Act is a colonial vestige that is draconian and repressive, as well as being an unreasonable and disproportionate restriction to the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” they said, adding that Pakatan Harapan had promised to repeal the Act in its manifesto.

The three individuals arrested yesterday were Eric Liew Chee Ling, Azham Akhtar Abdullah and Nur Alia Astaman, following reports lodged against them over their comments on social media.

Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the trio would be investigated under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948. - FMT